Can-soldering machine



(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 1. E E ANGELL CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 3,1889.

T f lrrll 111 l NvENTflFvi 2.2 7 Mm N. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhn 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Dec. 3. 1889.

E. E. ANGELL. G-AN SOLDERTNG MACHINE.

(No Model.)

INVEN'TEI N. PETERS. FMlo-Ulhognphw. Walhington, D4 (1 (No Model.) -6 SheetsSheet 3.

. B. E. ANGELL, CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

? 41 ,538, Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

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N. PETERS, PMQLnhognpher, Wnhingiofl, D. C.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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' Patented D001 3, 1889 NRF INVENTEIRu WIT ESSES: 9% I: qmaq N. PETERQ. Phnlvuthognohar, Wnhington. I18.

6 SheetsSheet 6.

(No Model.)

B. E. ANGELL. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 3. 1889.

lNVENTEIR" Z2, f

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVIN E. ANGELL, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO E. B. WVELOH, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,538, dated December 3, 1889. Application filed June .29, 1889. Serial No. 315,964. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN E. ANGELL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Soldering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a can-soldering machine in which a series of can-bodies may be kept in continuous motion in a rectilinear direction and while so movin g may be acted on by a plurality of soldering-irons moving in the same direction. I

- attain this result by the improved mechanism which I will now proceed to describe.

The machine comprises a series of mandrels supported by carriers which are coupled together so as to form an endless chain and are from the can-bodies and-moved back to a starting-point, then depressed to bear on a fresh series of. can-bodies, and then again moved forward with the can-bodies last mentioned. The irons are also reciprocated lengthwise, so that they rub the seams during the operation. Each mandrel is automatically contracted to release the can-body upon it after passing the location where the soldering-irons operate, and while the mandrel is contracted the soldered can-body is removed and an unsoldered blank or body previously bent into cylindrical form is placed on the mandrel and secured by the conjoint action of the mandrel when the latter is expanded and clamps affixed to the carrier, the can-body being pressed against the clamps by the expansion of the mandrel, all of which I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figures 1 and 1 represent a front elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 represents an end, view of tween them.

the same, certain parts being omitted to more clearly show the general construction. Fig. 3 represent-s an enlarged section on line 00 00, Fig. 1, showing a mandrel in its operative position. Fig. 4 represents a similar view showing the mandrel retracted. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged view of a portion of the front of the machine.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a CL 0. a represent the endless tracks in which the mandrel-carriers travel, said tracks being in the general shape of ellipses having flattened sides. The tracks a Ct a a, are supported by legs or supports 1), and the tracks a a at one side of the machine are secured to the tracks a a at the other side by transverse tie-rods c, Fig. 2. The outer track Ct is connected to the inner track a by arched or offset tie-bars d, which hold the said outer and inner tracks at fixed distances apart and permit by their arched form the passage of the mandrels between them. The tracks a a are similarly connected by tie-bars d, Fig. 2; but the latter are not nec essarily arched or oifset like the bars (1, because the mandrels do not project between the tracks a a; hence no clear space is required between and outside of the last-named tracks.

The tracks a a a a and the devices that connect and support the same constitute the frame that supports the mechanism hereinafter described.

Each mandrel-carrier is composed of two end pieces 6 e, transverse bars f connecting said end pieces and preferably cast therewith, and guide-rods g secured to the end pieces and extending across the space be- The said end pieces have antifriction rollers h, which run in the grooved tracks or guides to a co a. Each end piece 6 is provided with ears, and the ears of each end piece are connected to those of the adjacent end pieces by pivots i, which connect the carriers in an endless chain or series.

The chain of carriers is moved progressively by means of gears j on a shaft k, meshing with rack-sections m attached to the carriers,

'said sections forming continuous racks along the straight portions of the tracks. The shaft 75 is driven from a driving-shaft a through suitable connections, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each carrier 6 has a mandrel 0, which is attached to a slide or frame 19, adapted to move on the guide-rods g of the carrier at right angles to the line of motion of the carriers. Each slide or frame 1) is provided with a trundle-roll q, Figs. 2, 3, and a, which enters a groovedcam-shaped guide '2' affixed to the supporting-frame, said guide having the same longitudinal form as the tracks a, a a a and i being laterally curved or offset at one end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when each slide or frame reaches said offset portion it is drawn back, as shown in Fig. 4, the mandrel on said slide or frame being thus retracted or drawn inwardlybetween the tracks act. The main portion of the cam-shaped guide 0' is, however, formed to hold the mandrel-slides p in position to project the mandrels and hold them outside of the tracks a a, as shown in Fig. 3, this being the position of each mandrel while the can-body upon it is being soldered.

The object of retracting each mandrel is to withdraw it from the can-body after the soldering operation. Each carrier is provided with two fingers s s", Fig. 5, which stand in position to bear against the inner end of the can-body and prevent.it from moving with the mandrel when the latter is being retracted; hence the mandrel is withdrawn from the can-body.

Each mandrel is composed of two sections, and said sections are secured to the outer ends of springs s 3, Figs. 3 and 4, the inner ends of which are attached to the slide or frame 1), which supports the mandrel. \Vithin the mandrel is a longitudinally-movable tapering core 2, which when moved inwardly separates the sections, thus expanding the mandrel and causing it to press the can-body against clamps to it, Fig. 5, aflixed to the slide 1). Said core is attached to a rod 25, which is longitudinally movable in the slide or frame 19, and has a collar 1; on its rear portion, on which collar is a trundle-roll to, entering a cam-shaped guide I), which is ai'iixed to the supporting-frame. The collar has a limited movement between two collars c c on the rod t, and is normally held against the collar 0 by a spring a. Said guide Z) is formed substantially like the guide 0', but has a slightly different lateral curvature, the difference being such that when the slide 1) is moved by the guide 1', to retract the mandrel on said slide, the rod 15' and core t are moved at the same time with the slide 19, but to a slightly less extent, so that the core tstops before the mandrel is fully retracted, and is thus caused to release the sections of the mandrel, so that they are allowed to come together and contract the mandrel, thus releasing the can-body.

The spring 0 allows the collarv to be moved back slightly after the mandrel has been fully expanded by the core 25, so that there is no danger of strain or breakage in case the guide Z) continues to move the collar after the sections of the mandrel have been pressed against the can-body.

The core is held in the position last described by the guide 1) until the soldered body is removed from and. a new one applied to the mandrel. The mandrel composed of spring-supported sections, the longitudinallymovable core adapted to expand and permit the contraction of the mandrel, and the clamps which co-operate with the mandrel in grasping or clamping the can-body are shown and claimed in another application for Letters Patent filed by me January 29, 1889, Serial No. 298,007.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the can-bodies are placed upon the mandrels, while the latter are contracted, clamped by the expansion of the mandrels, and released by the contraction of the mandrels, a continuous progressive movement being meanwhile imparted to the mandrels by the endless chain of carriers.

While the mandrels are being moved along the straight portion of the course and are expanded to hold the can-bodies, the solderingirons B B are presented to said can-bodies. Said soldering-irons, of which there may be any desired number, are supported by a bar 0, having sockets or cavities G, in which said irons rest loosely. The acting-faces of the irons are narrow ribs that project downwardly through slots in the bottom of said sockets. The soldering-irons are free to rise and fall in the sockets C, so that they conform automatically to the thickness of the sheet metal of the can-bodies. The irons may be heated by any suitable means, as by a gas-burner arranged above them, so as to direct their flames against the portions of the irons that are contained in the sockets. Means are provided for raising and lowering the irons, and when they are lowered they are in position to bear upon the mandrel-supported can-bodies. The irons are rcciprocated longitudinally, so that when they are in contact with the canbodies they exert a rubbing action on the seams thereof. The irons are also movable laterally, and means are provided whereby they are moved in the same direction and at the same rate as the can-bodies when lowered, and in the opposite direction when raised, so that the irons remain in contact with the canbodies during the entire period of their depression, the contact of the irons with the canbodies thus obtained being sufficient to efiieet the soldering operation.

The means here shown for effecting the above described movements of the irons are as follows: The bar 0 is supported by a yoke or frame D, which is formed on a slide or base D, fitted to move in a horizontal guide E. Said guide has a vertical slide F at one end, which is fitted to move in a vertical guide G, affixed to the supporting-frame. The yoke D is provided at its ends with cars, which are log perforated to receive transverse horizontal rods II, affixed to the ends of the bars 0, said rods being adapted to slide in the ears of the yoke, so that the bar 0 is movable transversely. To the bar 0 is connected, by means of a rod J afiixed to ears on the bar 0, one end of a connecting-rod K, the other end of which is provided with a trundle-roll, which engages a cam L on the shaft is. Said cam is formed to impart the described reciprocating movement to the bar 0 and irons B through the connecting-rod K, thus giving the irons their rubbing motion. The yoke D is raised and lowered to elevate and depress the irons by means of a cam P on a shaft R, which is geared to the driving-shaft n and a connecting-rod Q, having a trundle-roll at one end engaged with said cam and pivoted at the other end to an car on the guide E. The rotation of the shaft R causes the cam P, through the rod Q, to alternately raise and lower the guide E, and with the latter the yoke D, bar 0, and irons B. The irons are moved laterally to accompany a series of progressively-moving can-bodies, and then return to act on a new series, by means of a cam R on the shaft R, and alever S, pivoted at T to the supporting-frame, and having at one end a trundle-roll engaged with the cam R and at the other end a slot which receives a stud U on the yoke D. The rotation of the cam R oscillates the lever S, and causes the latter to reciprocate the yoke D and bar C, thus carrying the soldering-irons back and forth in the directions indicated by the arrows A A, the irons being raised when moving in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and lowered upon the can-bodies when moving in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

My invention is not limited to the details of mechanism herein described, and the same may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The means for operating the soldering-irons form the subject of another application for Letters Patent filed by me concurrently herewith.

It is obvious that the mandrel-operating mechanism claimed in this application may be used with any other suitable soldering-ironoperating mechanism.

I claim- 1. In a can-soldering machine, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of an endless chain or series of carriers, fixed endless tracks supporting and guiding the same, means for impelling said carriers, mandrels supported by said carriers,-

a series of soldering-irons which act on the can-bodies supported by said mandrels, and

means for moving the soldering-irons laterally, first with the carriers and then in the opposite direction.

2. In a can-soldering machine, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of an endless chain or series of carriers, fixed endless tracks supporting and guiding the same, mechanism for impelling said carriers, a series of mandrels supported by said carriers and adapted to slide endwise therein, a series of soldering-irons which act on the can-bodies, a fixed cam-shaped guide, whereby said mandrels are alternately retracted and projected, and detents or stops on the carriers, whereby the can-bodies are prevented from being retracted with the mandrels.

3. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of the endless series of. carriers, each composed of end pieces having rollers and suitable connections between said end pieces, the fixed endless tracks, grooved to receive the rollers of said carriers, the rack-sections on said carriers a pinion and means for rotating the same, whereby said racksections and carriers are impelled, and the mandrels supported by said carriers, as set forth.

4. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of the endless series of carriers, each composed of the connected end pieces having rollers, and the guide-rods extending across the space between said end pieces, the fixed endless tracks engaged with said rollers, and the mandrel-holding slides adapted to move on said guide-rods, as set forth.

5. In a can-soldering machine, the combi nation of the endless seriesof carriers, the fixed endless tracks supporting said carriers, the slides laterally movable on said carriers, the mandrels on'said slides, means for impelling the series of carriers, and the fixed cam-shaped guide engaged with the mandrel-holding slides, whereby said slides are reciprocated to project and retract the mandrels, as set forth.

6. In a can-soldering machine, the combination of the endless series of carriers, the fixed endless tracks supporting said carriers, the slides laterally movable on said carriers, the mandrels on said slides, the cores in said mandrels having operating-rods, mechanism for impelling the series of carriers and mandrels, and the fixed cam-shaped guides a" b, engaged, respectively, with the mandrel-supporting slides and with the core-operating rods, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of June, A. D. 1889.

EDWIN E. ANGELL.

Witnesses:

(J. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON. 

